Manage Alfalfa Based on Winter Damage

Our calendars
show that spring has arrived. Although recent temperatures have been cool across
the Midwest, the snow has finally begun to melt. Soon plants will emerge from
their winter dormancy, so growers will need to visually evaluate grass regrowth
and the vitality of their alfalfa plants.

Usually at this
time of year, our alfalfa is waking up and ready to stretch from its long
winter nap. But, this season could be quite different as last
summer’s drought could have slowed the plant’s ability to adequately build
carbohydrates needed to maintain the plant through the winter months. Patience
will certainly be key.

How our unusual
winter weather will affect the alfalfa crop is anyone’s guess at this point.
Snow cover and residual vegetative cover help insulate the soil and stabilize
soil temperatures.

As temperatures warm through March, plants typically “break
dormancy” and regrow. But, our weather has been anything but typical!

Although daytime temperatures have fluctuated between above normal to freezing
throughout the winter,hopefully, night-time temps were cold enough to prevent plants from
breaking dormancy. When plants break dormancy early, they’re more susceptible
to cold crown temperatures. We’re also hopeful early season snow melt didn’t
submerge alfalfa plants in what then became frozen ponds in low-lying areas.